Communication network application programming interface promulgation

Abstract

The described technology is generally directed towards communication network application programming interface (API) promulgation. Using the techniques herein, APIs can be hosted at different locations within a network in a transitory manner, shifting from one location to the next. Furthermore, API configurations can change over time, in order to provide enhanced API security and/or to meet different expected needs of client equipment. An API manager can select network equipment to host APIs, in order to move the APIs between different network locations. A floater application within the core network can support the movement of the APIs by creating secure tunnels between the selected network equipment and the core network.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method, comprising:
 first identifying, by first network equipment comprising a processor, second network equipment to serve as a host of an application programming interface, 
 wherein the application programming interface is accessible by client equipment, and 
 wherein a network comprises the first network equipment, the second network equipment, and the third network equipment; 
 in response to first identifying the second network equipment, first instructing, by the first network equipment, the second network equipment to serve as the host of the application programming interface; 
 first sending, by the first network equipment, a first application programming interface address to the client equipment, wherein the first application programming interface address directs the client equipment to access the application programming interface via the second network equipment; 
 in response to an application programming interface movement event, second identifying, by the first network equipment, the third network equipment to serve as the host of the application programming interface; 
 in response to second identifying the third network equipment, second instructing, by the first network equipment, the third network equipment to serve as the host of the application programming interface; and 
 second sending, by the first network equipment, a second application programming interface address to the client equipment, wherein the second application programming interface address directs the client equipment to access the application programming interface via the third network equipment. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 first identifying the second network equipment to serve as the host of the application programming interface comprises identifying the second network equipment based on a first proximity of the client equipment and the second network equipment, and 
 second identifying the third network equipment to serve as the host of the application programming interface comprises identifying the third network equipment based on a second proximity of the client equipment and the third network equipment. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises a movement of the client equipment from a first geographic area to a second geographic area. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises at least one of reaching a threshold duration associated with the second network equipment serving as the host of the application programming interface, or reaching a threshold number of application programming interface queries associated with the second network equipment serving as the host of the application programming interface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises a decrease of a query rate of queries received at the application programming interface. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending, by the first network equipment, a first code to the client equipment and the second network equipment, wherein the first code is for use by the client equipment and the second network equipment in connection with an application programming interface query type; and 
 sending, by the first network equipment, a second code to the client equipment and the third network equipment, wherein the second code is different from the first code, and wherein the second code is for use by the client equipment and the third network equipment in connection with the application programming interface query type. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the application programming interface comprises a configured application programming interface that is configured based on a determination of configuration properties corresponding to the client equipment. 
     
     
       8. Network equipment, comprising:
 a processor; and 
 a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising: 
 receiving an instruction to serve as a host of an application programming interface, wherein the application programming interface is accessible by client equipment; 
 in response to receiving the instruction, initializing the application programming interface in order to host the application programming interface at the network equipment, wherein initializing the application programming interface comprises establishing a secure tunnel to a core network device; 
 receiving an application programming interface query from the client equipment; 
 processing the application programming interface query, wherein processing the application programming interface query comprises communicating with the core network device via the secure tunnel; and 
 in response to an application programming interface movement event, discontinuing the application programming interface at the network equipment in order to terminate as host of the application programming interface. 
 
     
     
       9. The network equipment of  claim 8 , wherein the network equipment comprises an edge node of a network comprising the network equipment and the core network device. 
     
     
       10. The network equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises a movement of the client equipment out of a geographic area comprising the edge node. 
     
     
       11. The network equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises receiving an instruction to discontinue execution of the application programming interface at the network equipment. 
     
     
       12. The network equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises at least one of reaching a threshold duration associated with the network equipment serving as the host of the application programming interface, or reaching a threshold number of application programming interface queries associated with the network equipment serving as the host of the application programming interface. 
     
     
       13. The network equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the application programming interface movement event comprises a decrease of a query rate of queries received at the application programming interface. 
     
     
       14. The network equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a code for use in connection with an application programming interface query type. 
     
     
       15. The network equipment of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving transaction history verification data that represents a transaction history of the client equipment and the application programming interface. 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 receiving a first request to establish a first secure tunnel between a first edge node and core network equipment, wherein the first edge node first hosts an application programming interface accessible by client equipment; 
 in response to the first request, establishing the first secure tunnel between the first edge node and the core network equipment; 
 receiving a first application programming interface query via the first edge node and the first secure tunnel, wherein the first application programming interface query comprises a first query to the application programming interface by the client equipment; 
 processing the first application programming interface query; 
 receiving a second request to establish a second secure tunnel between a second edge node and the core network equipment, wherein the second edge node second hosts the application programming interface accessible by the client equipment; 
 in response to the second request, establishing the second secure tunnel between the second edge node and the core network equipment; 
 receiving a second application programming interface query via the second edge node and the second secure tunnel, wherein the second application programming interface query comprises a second query to the application programming interface by the client equipment; and 
 processing the second application programming interface query. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise terminating the first secure tunnel. 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein processing the first application programming interface query comprises identifying a core network equipment function to process the first application programming interface query. 
     
     
       19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise validating the first application programming interface query. 
     
     
       20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 16 , wherein the operations further comprise identifying data at the core network equipment and configuring a property of the application programming interface to enable access, via the application programming interface, to the data at the core network equipment.